Difference between revisions of "Maple View Mennonite Church (Wellesley, Ontario, Canada)"
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| + | [[File:Maple-View-Mennonite-Church-Wellesley.jpg|300px|thumbnail|''Maple View Mennonite Church.<br/>Source: Congregation's Facebook page'']] | ||
Wellesley Township in [[Waterloo County (Ontario, Canada)|Waterloo County]], [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], [[Canada]] was a "clergy reserve," which meant proceeds from land sales were intended to support Protestant churches, primarily the Church of England. The regulations for such sales were complex, and it was not until these lands were removed from church control in the 1850s that extensive settlement took place. This included [[Amish Mennonites]] from the adjacent Wilmot settlement. In 1859 a Wellesley Amish Mennonite congregation was established; John Jantzi was the bishop, along with ministers John Jausie and Joseph Lichti, and deacon John Gerber. As was the Amish custom, services were held every two weeks in homes. | Wellesley Township in [[Waterloo County (Ontario, Canada)|Waterloo County]], [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], [[Canada]] was a "clergy reserve," which meant proceeds from land sales were intended to support Protestant churches, primarily the Church of England. The regulations for such sales were complex, and it was not until these lands were removed from church control in the 1850s that extensive settlement took place. This included [[Amish Mennonites]] from the adjacent Wilmot settlement. In 1859 a Wellesley Amish Mennonite congregation was established; John Jantzi was the bishop, along with ministers John Jausie and Joseph Lichti, and deacon John Gerber. As was the Amish custom, services were held every two weeks in homes. | ||
In 1867 the Wellesley congregation built a small frame structure on the site of its cemetery. It was used only as a shelter for the immediate family at the time of funerals. The land on which the cemetery and funeral chapel was located was deeded to the congregation on 11 July 1870 by Leonard Streicher for $30.00. | In 1867 the Wellesley congregation built a small frame structure on the site of its cemetery. It was used only as a shelter for the immediate family at the time of funerals. The land on which the cemetery and funeral chapel was located was deeded to the congregation on 11 July 1870 by Leonard Streicher for $30.00. | ||
| − | In 1886 a majority of the congregation decided to replace the funeral chapel with a larger meetinghouse. Those members, including a deacon, who chose to continue to worship in homes became known as "house Amish," and eventually [[Old Order Amish]]. Until 1891 this group was served by bishops from [[Holmes County |Holmes County]], [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]] for ordinations, baptisms and communion services. This group continues as part of the [[Milverton Old Order Amish Settlement (Milverton, Ontario, Canada)|Milverton Old Order Amish settlement]]. | + | In 1886 a majority of the congregation decided to replace the funeral chapel with a larger meetinghouse. Those members, including a deacon, who chose to continue to worship in homes became known as "house Amish," and eventually [[Old Order Amish]]. Until 1891 this group was served by bishops from [[Holmes County (Ohio, USA)|Holmes County]], [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]] for ordinations, baptisms and communion services. This group continues as part of the [[Milverton Old Order Amish Settlement (Milverton, Ontario, Canada)|Milverton Old Order Amish settlement]]. |
In 1911 and 1912 another conservative group withdrew from the Wellesley Amish Mennonite group to organize a congregation called the Lichti Amish Mennonites, after their leader, Bishop Jacob Lichti. This group built a meetinghouse a half mile east of the parent church. It became known as the [[Cedar Grove Amish Mennonite Church (Wellesley, Ontario, Canada)|Cedar Grove Amish Mennonite Church]]. After this division, the Wellesley Amish Mennonite congregation was able to institute Sunday school, though it did not begin a shift to English until the 1930s. | In 1911 and 1912 another conservative group withdrew from the Wellesley Amish Mennonite group to organize a congregation called the Lichti Amish Mennonites, after their leader, Bishop Jacob Lichti. This group built a meetinghouse a half mile east of the parent church. It became known as the [[Cedar Grove Amish Mennonite Church (Wellesley, Ontario, Canada)|Cedar Grove Amish Mennonite Church]]. After this division, the Wellesley Amish Mennonite congregation was able to institute Sunday school, though it did not begin a shift to English until the 1930s. | ||
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Another division, in 1987, took place when 15 families left Maple View to form what became the independent [[Faith Mennonite Church (Wellesley, Ontario, Canada)|Faith Mennonite Church]], that in 2016 was meeting in a modern facility in Kingswood. | Another division, in 1987, took place when 15 families left Maple View to form what became the independent [[Faith Mennonite Church (Wellesley, Ontario, Canada)|Faith Mennonite Church]], that in 2016 was meeting in a modern facility in Kingswood. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
= Bibliography = | = Bibliography = | ||
Gingerich, Orland. ''The Amish of Canada.'' Waterloo, ON: Conrad Press, 1972. | Gingerich, Orland. ''The Amish of Canada.'' Waterloo, ON: Conrad Press, 1972. | ||
| Line 58: | Line 57: | ||
| John Gascho (1864-1949)|| 1913-1949 | | John Gascho (1864-1949)|| 1913-1949 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Daniel Lebold (1874- | + | | Daniel Lebold (1874-1941) || 1920-19 |
|- | |- | ||
| Samuel L. Schultz (1883-1966) || 1938-1956 | | Samuel L. Schultz (1883-1966) || 1938-1956 | ||
| Line 76: | Line 75: | ||
| Glen Jantzi (1953- ) || 1982-1984 | | Glen Jantzi (1953- ) || 1982-1984 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Ephraim Gingerich (1917-2010)<br/>(Interim) || 1985-1987 | + | | [[Gingerich, Ephraim (1917-2010)|Ephraim Gingerich]] (1917-2010)<br/>(Interim) || 1985-1987 |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Victor Dorsch || 1988-1994 | + | | Victor Dorsch (1927- ) || 1988-1994 |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Ray Erb || 1995-1999 | + | | Ray Erb (1933- ) || 1995-1999 |
|- | |- | ||
| Jim Whitehead<br/>(Interim) || 1997 | | Jim Whitehead<br/>(Interim) || 1997 | ||
| Line 90: | Line 89: | ||
| Brent Kipfer || 2012-present | | Brent Kipfer || 2012-present | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | |||
== Membership at Maple View Mennonite Church == | == Membership at Maple View Mennonite Church == | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" | ||
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[[Map:Maple View Mennonite Church (Wellesley, Ontario, Canada)]] | [[Map:Maple View Mennonite Church (Wellesley, Ontario, Canada)]] | ||
= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article = | = Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article = | ||
| − | By Joseph C. Fretz. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia | + | By [[Fretz, Joseph C. (1885-1956)|Joseph C. Fretz]]. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 3, p. 475. All rights reserved. |
Maple View Amish Mennonite Church, north of Wellesley, Waterloo County, Ontario, was organized in 1859 with John Jantzi (1806-1881) as bishop by members of the Steinmann congregation in Wilmot Township who had moved a few miles northward into Wellesley Township, and was long called the Wellesley congregation. It was a member of the Ontario A.M. Conference. Meetings were at first held in the homes until a meetinghouse was erected which was to be used only as a funeral chapel. When the house began to be used for regular worship services (1886) a group opposed to this withdrew to continue as the Wellesley Old Order Amish. They were joined by a group which withdrew the same year and for the same reason from the nearby Mornington (Poole) A.M. congregation. In 1954 the Old Order group still had three districts, with a total of 260 baptized members. In 1912 again a conservative faction broke away from the Wellesley A.M. group to organize a separate congregation, called the Lichti group after its leader, Bishop Jacob Lichti. This group built a meetinghouse a half mile east of the Wellesley A.M. church. It continued to use German exclusively, sang from the ''Ausbund,'' and had no Sunday school. Thus it was in a sense "Old Order," although it had no fellowship with the Wellesley "House Amish" Old Order group. In 1954 it had 200 members, and was called the Cedar Grove A.M. congregation. | Maple View Amish Mennonite Church, north of Wellesley, Waterloo County, Ontario, was organized in 1859 with John Jantzi (1806-1881) as bishop by members of the Steinmann congregation in Wilmot Township who had moved a few miles northward into Wellesley Township, and was long called the Wellesley congregation. It was a member of the Ontario A.M. Conference. Meetings were at first held in the homes until a meetinghouse was erected which was to be used only as a funeral chapel. When the house began to be used for regular worship services (1886) a group opposed to this withdrew to continue as the Wellesley Old Order Amish. They were joined by a group which withdrew the same year and for the same reason from the nearby Mornington (Poole) A.M. congregation. In 1954 the Old Order group still had three districts, with a total of 260 baptized members. In 1912 again a conservative faction broke away from the Wellesley A.M. group to organize a separate congregation, called the Lichti group after its leader, Bishop Jacob Lichti. This group built a meetinghouse a half mile east of the Wellesley A.M. church. It continued to use German exclusively, sang from the ''Ausbund,'' and had no Sunday school. Thus it was in a sense "Old Order," although it had no fellowship with the Wellesley "House Amish" Old Order group. In 1954 it had 200 members, and was called the Cedar Grove A.M. congregation. | ||
Revision as of 12:00, 14 January 2017
Wellesley Township in Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada was a "clergy reserve," which meant proceeds from land sales were intended to support Protestant churches, primarily the Church of England. The regulations for such sales were complex, and it was not until these lands were removed from church control in the 1850s that extensive settlement took place. This included Amish Mennonites from the adjacent Wilmot settlement. In 1859 a Wellesley Amish Mennonite congregation was established; John Jantzi was the bishop, along with ministers John Jausie and Joseph Lichti, and deacon John Gerber. As was the Amish custom, services were held every two weeks in homes.
In 1867 the Wellesley congregation built a small frame structure on the site of its cemetery. It was used only as a shelter for the immediate family at the time of funerals. The land on which the cemetery and funeral chapel was located was deeded to the congregation on 11 July 1870 by Leonard Streicher for $30.00.
In 1886 a majority of the congregation decided to replace the funeral chapel with a larger meetinghouse. Those members, including a deacon, who chose to continue to worship in homes became known as "house Amish," and eventually Old Order Amish. Until 1891 this group was served by bishops from Holmes County, Ohio for ordinations, baptisms and communion services. This group continues as part of the Milverton Old Order Amish settlement.
In 1911 and 1912 another conservative group withdrew from the Wellesley Amish Mennonite group to organize a congregation called the Lichti Amish Mennonites, after their leader, Bishop Jacob Lichti. This group built a meetinghouse a half mile east of the parent church. It became known as the Cedar Grove Amish Mennonite Church. After this division, the Wellesley Amish Mennonite congregation was able to institute Sunday school, though it did not begin a shift to English until the 1930s.
In 1928 the 1886 building was replaced by a larger structure. At this time the congregation began to use the name, Maple View. This building was replaced again in 2010. At various times, additional property was also purchased to better serve the congregation's needs.
The Poole Mennonite Church, located in Mornington Township of Perth County was a daughter congregation of Wellesley Amish Mennonite. It was formally organized in 1874. In 1949 a former Presbyterian church was purchased in Crosshill, and led to the formation of the Crosshill Mennonite Church. Crosshill was considered an extension of Maple View until 1970, when it became an independent congregation.
Another division, in 1987, took place when 15 families left Maple View to form what became the independent Faith Mennonite Church, that in 2016 was meeting in a modern facility in Kingswood.
Bibliography
Gingerich, Orland. The Amish of Canada. Waterloo, ON: Conrad Press, 1972.
Mennonite Reporter (18 January 1988): 4.
Maple View Mennonite Church 1859-1984. Wellesley, ON: The Church, 1984.
Maple View Mennonite Church History Book 1859-1984, 1984-2009. Wellesley, ON: The Church, 2009
Additional Information
Address: 5074 Deborah Glaister Line, Wellesley, Ontario N0B 2T0
Phone: 519-656-2946
Website: http://mvmchurch.ca/
Denominational Affiliations: Mennonite Church Eastern Canada
Ordained Pastors at Maple View Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| John Jantzi (1806-1881) | 1859-1881 |
| John Jausie (1815-1875) | 1859-1875 |
| Joseph L. Lichti (1824-1890) | 1859-1890 |
| Christian Gascho (1838-1872) | 1865-1872 |
| John Wagler (1839-1901) | 1873-1901 |
| Christian B. Zehr (1841-1928) | 1875-1928 |
| Christian S. Zehr (1864-1938) | 1891-1938 |
| Jacob F. Lichti (1866-1944) | 1898-1944 |
| John Gascho (1864-1949) | 1913-1949 |
| Daniel Lebold (1874-1941) | 1920-19 |
| Samuel L. Schultz (1883-1966) | 1938-1956 |
| Samuel Leis (1891-1963) | 1938-1963 |
| Samuel O. Erb (1897-1950) | 1944-1950 |
| Christian Streicher (1895-1974) | 1952-1967 |
| Christian O. Erb (1900-1971) | 1960-1971 |
| Allen Y. Bender (1899-1972) | 1952-1972 |
| Alvin Leis (1913-1992 ) | 1966- |
| Glen Jantzi (1953- ) | 1982-1984 |
| Ephraim Gingerich (1917-2010) (Interim) |
1985-1987 |
| Victor Dorsch (1927- ) | 1988-1994 |
| Ray Erb (1933- ) | 1995-1999 |
| Jim Whitehead (Interim) |
1997 |
| Bruce Sawatsky | 2000-2011 |
| Michael Strain (Interim) |
2011-2012 |
| Brent Kipfer | 2012-present |
Membership at Maple View Mennonite Church
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1900 | 230 |
| 1925 | 350 |
| 1935 | 400 |
| 1945 | 440 |
| 1955 | 457* |
| 1965 | 514* |
| 1975 | 339 |
| 1985 | 347 |
| 1995 | 292 |
| 2005 | 320 |
| 2015 | 272 |
- = Includes Crosshill Mennonite Church
Map
Map:Maple View Mennonite Church (Wellesley, Ontario, Canada)
Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article
By Joseph C. Fretz. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 475. All rights reserved.
Maple View Amish Mennonite Church, north of Wellesley, Waterloo County, Ontario, was organized in 1859 with John Jantzi (1806-1881) as bishop by members of the Steinmann congregation in Wilmot Township who had moved a few miles northward into Wellesley Township, and was long called the Wellesley congregation. It was a member of the Ontario A.M. Conference. Meetings were at first held in the homes until a meetinghouse was erected which was to be used only as a funeral chapel. When the house began to be used for regular worship services (1886) a group opposed to this withdrew to continue as the Wellesley Old Order Amish. They were joined by a group which withdrew the same year and for the same reason from the nearby Mornington (Poole) A.M. congregation. In 1954 the Old Order group still had three districts, with a total of 260 baptized members. In 1912 again a conservative faction broke away from the Wellesley A.M. group to organize a separate congregation, called the Lichti group after its leader, Bishop Jacob Lichti. This group built a meetinghouse a half mile east of the Wellesley A.M. church. It continued to use German exclusively, sang from the Ausbund, and had no Sunday school. Thus it was in a sense "Old Order," although it had no fellowship with the Wellesley "House Amish" Old Order group. In 1954 it had 200 members, and was called the Cedar Grove A.M. congregation.
The Poole (Mornington) A.M. church was an outgrowth of the Wellesley A.M. settlement. It was formally organized in 1874 although it did not build a meetinghouse until 1886. The meetinghouse was the occasion of an Old Order split paralleling that at Wellesley in the same year, called the Mornington Old Order Amish group. In 1904 a second schism occurred in the Poole A.M. congregation, led by Bishop Nicholas Nafziger, which built a meetinghouse in that year, but continued to use the German language and the Ausbund and had no Sunday school. It paralleled the Lichti congregation and in 1954 had 175 members. It was locally called the Nafziger church, although its official name was Mornington. Mornington and Cedar Grove were reckoned with the Beachy Amish group. In 1928 a new frame church was erected, and the name Maple View was adopted to replace the name Wellesley.
Bishops who served the congregation before the use of the meetinghouse were John Jantzi, Christian Gascho, Christian Wagler, and Christian B. Zehr. Samuel L. Schultz (1883- ) served as bishop after 1941. In 1954 Samuel V. Leis, Chris S. Streicher, and Allen Y. Bender were serving as ministers. An outpost was operated at Crosshill. The total membership of the two places was 457. The congregation has been slow in adopting the English language for its services and long retained the Ausbund as its hymnal.
Thus in 1954 there were six congregations on three distinct levels, with a total of 1,092 members, the outgrowth of the original Wellesley congregation of 1859.
| Author(s) | Sam Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | December 2016 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Sam. "Maple View Mennonite Church (Wellesley, Ontario, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2016. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Maple_View_Mennonite_Church_(Wellesley,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=143161.
APA style
Steiner, Sam. (December 2016). Maple View Mennonite Church (Wellesley, Ontario, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Maple_View_Mennonite_Church_(Wellesley,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=143161.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.